| Melanie Nakagawa | |
| Education: | |
| Occupation: | Chief Sustainability Officer |
| Employer: | Microsoft Corp |
Melanie Nakagawa is an American attorney, former government official, and the current Chief Sustainability Officer for Microsoft Corp. Her career began in Washington, D.C. as a part of various energy projects from the U.S. Department of State to the National Security Council. In 2023, Nakagawa was identified as a leader in the climate crisis.[1] [2]
Melanie Nakagawa attended Brown University. Nakagawa has a Juris Doctor degree as well as a masters in international affairs from American University, Washington, DC.[3] [4]
Nakagawa's career began as Energy and Environment Counsel on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee for Chairman John F. Kerry. She reviewed issues of energy security, climate change, and environmental issues as well as developed policy recommendations and drafted legislation. Afterwards, she followed Secretary Kerry as a part of his Policy Planning Staff in the United States Department of State.[5] In this role, she continued her policy development, noting in one instance that the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) would be a good investment for USAID projects. She highlighted that gender was tied closely to these initiatives, where the impacts of climate change are compounded by inequity for many women.[6]
Nakagawa joined Microsoft as their Chief Sustainability Officer in January 2023.[7]